The last part- grlz wknd 3

When I left my sweet husband last weekend for girls weekend at my parents home I clipped this little note to his pillow.  

When I was younger my cousin taught me not to forget your PJ'S before bed.

P- Prayer

J- Journal

S- Scriptures

That has stuck with me my whole life.  In our home John and I always say our prayers together at night.  Occasionally we miss our scripture study but we are trying so hard to make that a deep habit.  We know that studying the scriptures makes for a strong foundation in our lives and in our knowledge of the gospel. I'd like to think of this blog as the ultimate journal, so I think I've got that one down. (sorry for the tangent)

So, here is the rest of girls weekend.

(Breakfast on the porch the first day)

(that's supposed to say with. not qith...)

(making caramel apples the second night)

(beautiful sister)

(my skinny mother with our fruit skewers)

(grilled chicken the first night)

(candle craft)

(we made these pumpkins out of wired ribbon)

(santa claus looking pizza)

(our feet)

"I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents and how all of you can achieve the 'highest place of honor' in the Church and in the world. One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty.

-James E. Faust

See Part one (here)

See part two (here)

We have beautiful vegetarian friends

You know those people who just give you good vibes?

I do, I know a lot of them.  We spent our evening with 3 lovely friends, Michele and her husband John (they are real hippies.  Also, 2 Johns's in the house made it a little confusing) and also our friend Sara.

Michele and John are moving to the BIG APPLE and we are so excited for them.  They are leaving in 6 days which made us feel so good that they would take time out of their crazy schedules and come and see us before they left.  Michele probably invited us to come visit her in NYC approximately 25 during the night.  I think we will go.  

I love cities.  Atlanta has done it for me for about 5 years.  I love Atlanta.  There is something about the energy of a city.  I love that there are millions of people all working together who don't even know each other but somehow we all work together to create this amazing microcosm.  I love walking down the sidewalk and feeling small next to the buildings, I love feeling like I could help an outsider get around in the city, I love that everyone has somewhere to be.  The expanse of the towering skyscrapers all the way to the depth of the subway systems challenge my mind to think about how small I am compared to this huge place I am living in. (sorry for the tangent)

Anyway, I would love to live in the heart of a large city someday.  Who knows, maybe we will join Michele and John in NYC?

So, Michele is vegetarian and I really really wanted to try to make a yummy vegetarian meal.  I have NEVER eaten tofu in my life but I wanted to try to cook it.  So, I searched and searched for the perfect recipe, we are talking probably an hour or two!  I found the recipe for Tofu Vegetable Stir-Fry.  YUM!  

So, I made it (with husbands help of course)!  I have to say, for my first vegetarian meal it was pretty great!  I would love to know if anyone has any other vegetarian suggestions.

Don't get me wrong I LOVE meat, it's just always nice to try something new! (Plus I still have a package of extra firm sitting in my fridge) 

*Find Tofu Stir-fry Recipe here*

We also made homemade sweet potato fries and Michele brought a vegetarian dish and I don't know the name of it!  Michele help me out...here is my best guess at the spelling Quinoua?!?

I also made a Sour Cream Chocolate Cake, oh my it was great.  The batter was the silkiest and smoothest batter I have EVER made.

For cake layers:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/3 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3 large eggs

For frosting

• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup whipped cream cheese
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Michele was so funny.  She said when they went apartment hunting in NYC, she purchased a Glamour Magazine for the first time since middle school!  She is trying to read up on all the latest fashions, which is quite precious (and smart).  She says that the "just got out of bed" look for hair is still in.  YES!

I gave her the middle part.  Apparently thats not going anywhere anytime soon either.  I think she is beautiful.

Her hippie hubs, John.

Sara sporting a beautiful messy bun.

Moi, in my workout clothes.  Don't be fooled I was not working out, just babysitting, which is basically a workout.

(Yes, we use a day bed for a couch)

Then John and I performed two of our original creations for our friends. We will post a recording soon.  We love sharing our music and we hope you like it too.

Good luck to Michele and John, we will miss you!